“You’ve witnessed the skull’s power before, haven’t you?” she asked.

He made to leave, but she gripped his sleeve. Garin slid into the doorway, closing their distance to but a breath.

“Tell me about it,” she said. “Give me proof this skull is worth the worry.”

20

Granada, Spain, 1430

Garin glanced over his shoulder toward the distant Alhambra Palace. It sat like a jewel perched atop the red hills. The setting sun glinted across the palace, catching glass and metal in a twinkle.

“No time for dawdle, apprentice.”

Roux reined his mount near Garin’s and nodded north. They’d crossed the Darro River an hour earlier. It was a fine time for dawdling. The night moved upon them with a surprising chill. The goshawk circling above had left them for her nest, no doubt to settle for the night.

Exhausted from the journey, Garin was ready to make camp. Ahead, a grove of trees edged a field of some crop he couldn’t guess at, perhaps wheat. The trees would provide shelter for camp.

“We will rest soon?” he wondered, but expected the answer.

“No.”

His master reined closer and Garin could see the old man’s pale irises. “Listen,” Roux said.

To what? The sound of his belly grumbling for lacking food?

Dropping his tight hold on the reins allowed the horse freedom to graze. Garin tilted his head, eyeing Roux as he listened. The old man held his gaze fiercely.

The rustle of leaves tempted. Almond trees, thick with white blossoms. Could a man eat the nut straight from the tree?

Yet there, yes, he heard something. Rather, he felt vibrations touch his bones with a wicked warning.

Garin pulled rein. His unspoken fear was met with a nod from Roux.

“They’ve been following since Granada,” Roux said. “Six or more, I’m sure.”

Now the horses picked up the vibrations and lifted their heads. Ears twitched. They walked, heads bobbing, ready to gallop. Garin let his mount follow Roux’s lead as he heeled his to action.

“Why?” Garin called, as their meander into the night became a blood-racing gallop.

“I may have something they want,” Roux called back. “Head for the trees. We can use them as defense.”

Defense. Garin shook his head. “Here we go again.”

The old man did have a manner to him. He attracted a skirmish no matter where he traveled. It was good training for Garin, and he never minded a chase followed by the clash of swords.

WIELDING LEATHER SHIELDS and helmets, six warriors entered the grove of almond trees full speed. Swords to the ready, they were quiet, no voices heard amidst the thunder of hooves.

“Moors,” Roux whispered to Garin. “From the palace. Must be de Castaña’s guards.”

“The alchemist? Why would he send men after us? Did you not pay for the dagger?”

“Oh, indeed.” Roux patted his hip where he’d sheathed the kris dagger.

He jumped from his mount—ridiculous to do so when the warriors were so close. Opening a flap on the saddlebag Roux dipped in his hand.

“I may have forgotten to pay for this, though.”

He drew out the small skull Garin had marveled over in the alchemist’s lab. A wink from Roux seemed ridiculous, yet Garin could only laugh. His master wasn’t one to take no for an answer. If the alchemist had refused to sell the skull, well, then.

“Will it be worth it—” Garin drew out his saber “—when our heads are on the ground separated from our bodies?”

“There’s but six of them, boy.”

Indeed. Those were good odds.

Heeling his mount, Garin charged the vanguard. The first slash of his saber cut across the lead rider’s face. Hot blood spattered Garin’s wool cloak and chin. He swung low and right, sliding his back along the horse’s flank to avoid the swing of a curved saber. His forehead skimmed the bark of an almond tree. Better that than the cut of a blade.

Night had fallen and navigating the grove was tricky. Garin let his rouncey take the ground where it wished. He had only to direct it toward the cavalcade.

A Moor’s saber cut down his mount’s neck. Slashing his blade, Garin cut off a hand. The horse’s withers tensed. Garin sensed it would rear and try to shed him. So he jumped down and put his back to a narrow tree trunk.

Listening, Garin tried to locate Roux. What was the old man up to? Huddled in some tree trunk caressing his prize?

No, the guttural cry of triumph told him Roux had taken down a rider. He may be getting on in age, but his master loved a fight as much as he.

The horse’s tail snapped his cheek as if an iron-tipped whip. Garin dodged to avoid a hoof and swung around with a wide lunge toward the rider gaining him. His blade cut across the leather shield.

Swinging his shoulders, Garin used his free hand and hooked it in a stirrup. A tug mastered the rider’s equilibrium. He was tossed from the saddle and, flying over Garin’s head, landed on the hard red dirt with a yelp.

“Behind me, boy!”

Stabbing quickly, Garin pushed his blade into the fallen Moor’s chest. It passed through mail and bone. Blood scent imbued the air. Then he ran toward Roux’s voice. The air thundered. No, that was the ground.

More warriors. Dozens entered the grove. Hooting cries and slashes of blade littered the darkness. The soft touch of white almond blossom petals rained upon Garin’s skin.

“So many?” Garin said as he crashed against Roux’s side. Back to back, they held position in the night. “For a skull?”

“Time to see if it will give us the good things it promises.”

He had no idea what the old man babbled about. Garin swung and caught a rider across the shoulder. The taste of blood was vile.

“Back toward the tree,” Roux directed. “And stay behind me.”

Stumbling over a fallen body, Garin wasn’t willing to put himself in a position to be surrounded by the enemy. But Roux had never led him astray without then either teaching him a means to overcome, or outright crashing their way through, the melee.

He was still alive after a dozen years with the man. He trusted he had a good dozen more at the very least. This would not be his night to die.

Garin’s shoulder bruised against the tree. The scent of sweet almond oil stirred amongst the froth of heated horseflesh and dust.

“Give us good things,” Roux recited.

He held the skull before him with both hands, high and as if an offering to the moon.

A thump within his heart unsteadied Garin on his feet. Or had it been a physical movement beneath him? The earth had pulsed. Men cried out. Horses whinnied and hooves trampled the ground.

Almond blossoms were unleashed from their tethers in a storm.

Amidst a swirl of petals the melee was put back. Riders fell from their mounts and landed on the ground, arms splayed. As if cut through the heart, their chests opened wide. Blood gurgled up. The ground grew muddy from human blood. They did not rise and advance upon Roux and Garin.

Gaping, Garin clung to the tree trunk.

It was as though some unseen force had blasted through the air and killed them all at once. What supernatural force had been unleashed? He whispered a prayer to his God.

Another pulse blew the trees bare of blossoms. Garin clutched Roux’s shoulders, but found he was neither toppled nor injured.

“What is it? How is this happening?”